They read their own daily and weekly newspapers. which are thoroughly American in everything but the type in which they are printed. Would it be fair to say to such men: The door of American citizenship shall be closed against you. because. perhaps. your hours are so fully occupied in productive toil that you can not find time to acquire a thorough and complete knowledge of the English language. or because. probably. you have passed the age when it is practicable for you to do so? If this section is enacted into law as it now stands. would not the result be a discrimination In favor of Immigrants from Englishspeaking countries. and against those from Germany. Norway. Sweden. and other countries? This section imposes a more severe educational test for naturalization than is imposed by any State in the Union. with possibly two or three exceptions. upon those qualified to vote. But more than that. no standard is fixed as to how proficient lie must become in reading. speaking. and understandiiig the English language. That is left to the will of the judge to whom he applies for naturalization. to be exercised as he sees fit in any case. If it be wise to impose an educational test for naturalization. let it be so drawn that it will not discriminate against some of our most desirable classes of immigrants. It would be an injustice to fix such a rigid educational test as would exclude from citizenship men who are otherwise in every way worthy and well equipped for its duties. [Loud applause.] [Mr. BURNETT addressed the committee.
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immigrants naturalization Immigrants